Bedroom color ideas can be the perfect, quick refresh. A new color scheme can totally change the look and feel of a room in just a few hours and there's an infinite amount of combinations to choose from, whether you are after a serene neutral sleep space or a cocooning dark color palette.
But beyond thinking purely about the vibe you want your color to create, there are a few practical things you need to consider too. It's important to think about the room's orientation; is it north facing or south facing? How much sunlight does it get? How will the bedroom paint color look under both natural daylight and lamplight? Some lamps emit quite a yellow glow, which can affect the look of a color – particularly cooler shades. Think about the room's size too; do you want your bedroom to cozy or grand? Do you want to draw the eyes up to accentuate the height, or create a more cocooning effect?
See, lots to think about beyond looks, but don't worry we cover all sizes, styles, and aspects of rooms so you are sure to find plenty of inspiring bedroom ideas and expert advice to help you make some decisions.
The best bedroom color ideas
'Color can have a significant effect on our mood – greens, for example, are known to be very restful colors.' explains Dominic Myland, CEO of Mylands. 'Our general advice though is to go for colors that you are personally drawn to. It will be the last thing you see at night and the first thing you see in the morning, so choosing a great color that you love is important. Some people prefer a calm, tranquil bedroom and others prefer a more dramatic and intimate style. Don’t ignore the woodwork – you can introduce visual interest and character to a room with simple treatments such as painting the woodwork a different color, or you can create a very immersive, cocooning environment by using one shade on everything – including the ceiling.'
1. Give red and pink a grown up twist
Red and pink are a contemporary, on-trend combo and inject just a touch of grey make this scheme feel slightly more sophisticated and grown-up. A combination of pink and grey with a shot of deep rouge in this master bedroom feels soft and inviting but with a fresh, modern edge. A nice twist on the classic pink and grey bedroom schemes we see so much of.
2. Tone down yellow
Yellow is such an uplifting color, bringing brightness to any size or aspect of room. It can work as a bedroom paint idea on all four walls, but for a more subtle look, opt for a feature wall or bring into those sunny yellow hues with a headboard. The soft, muted yellow works so well in this space with the baby pinks and layers of blue – a fun color scheme that still feels soft and serene.
3. Create a striking look with a monochrome white scheme
Sometimes no color can be just as striking as lots of color, as this all-white modern bedroom proves. The lack of color makes such a statement, it's so decidedly one color that it feels really bold, so far from boring. But there's interest in there too, the subtle texture of the wooden floor, the slubby linen of the bedsheets, the ruffles of the valance pooling on the floor. And there are shapes too, that almost look like silhouettes against the white – the sculptural outline of the side table, the curves of the chandelier, the sweeping canopy.
The owner of this Georgian rectory is Janet Parrella Van Den Berg, co-founder of design brand White & Faded. ‘To me, white is every single color,’ says Janet. ‘Depending on how the sun falls, it can look blue, yellow, red… It changes throughout the day. White makes me feel alive and uplifted, like I can breathe, and there’s a real calmness to it. Sometimes color does make it into the house, but it tends to go away very quickly. It disturbs my eye and draws attention away from the rest of the room!’
4. Pair forest green with layers of neutral tones
Green, with its known calming yet invigorating qualities, is the perfect color for a bedroom. And in certain shades, green can almost work as a neutral, when paired with creams, beiges, and whites it doesn't stand out as a pop of color as say more primary colors would, it just adds an earthiness to the palette.
Be inspired by this bedroom color idea and stick with your neutrals on the walls and floors, and with your soft furnishings and bedding, but bring in a lovely mossy green with a sumptuous velvet headboard. You'll instantly see it pulls a slightly green tone out of the neutral colors too.
'Selecting a neutral hue on the walls is a fantastic option because it sets the serene feeling while being a canvas for the pieces within the room, allowing you more creative liberty with the rest of the design.' says designer Kathy Kuo. 'With a strictly neutral space, I suggest incorporating pieces within the palette that have a variety of tones, textures and sheens. This will create movement in a space, making sure it doesn’t feel flat as it comes together -- which can often happen when designing with neutrals. You can match the rest of your design to a delicate and airy color palette, or add in pops of color through upholstery, art and drapes.'
5. Go for an on trend warm beige
Beiges were once seen as the blandest of the neutral shades, however, these warmer, more slubby tones are a huge color trend for 2022, and work particularly well in bedrooms as they guarantee that comforting, cocooning feel.
'We love this cozy, warm Greige, which is a perfect backdrop for any space where you want to feel reassured and nurtured; says Franky Roussell founder of design studio Jolie. 'Brown tones, again, subliminally connect us to the stability of wood and earth in nature - allowing us to feel grounded and in a safe space. This is a perfect tone for any switch off zones like bedrooms or comfy living spaces.'
The key to making beige a bit more... exciting is to pair it with bolder shades. And bold shades can still be muted and soft, but bring a bit of zing to a neutral bedroom. See how the deep green, pale blues, and earthy but bright corals work in this space.
6. Be bold with vivid greens and primary hues
'Green harnesses the power of growth in nature, but by choosing this shade you’ll also evoke feelings of reassurance, rest and security. It's an incredibly powerful colour to put the mind at ease which is why it has been on trend this year as people seek to create a calm atmosphere in their homes amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic.' explains, Rob Abrahams, Co-Founder of COAT Paints.
And what we love about green is it behaves almost like a neutral, in that it works with both sides of the color spectrum – want to keep things soft and calming? Pair it with warmer neutrals, greys and whites, but for a really bold look, it can be so striking mixed with primary colors like blues and yellows as can be seen in this bedroom. As with any bold palette, however, just be sure to add in some swathes of crisp white to balance out the intensity.
7. Ground pale blue with a deep pink
Despite their nursery decor reputation, pale pastel shades can work in grown-up spaces, as you can see in this really chic and quirky bedroom. The key to getting the look right is simple – plenty of pattern and texture. Now we are necessarily talk anything too crazy, just introduce some subtle prints and fabrics so you don't have lots of solid blocks of pastel shades.
The intricate pale blue wallpaper has such a small, detailed print you barely notice it, but it's just enough to give the walls a bit of depth and interest. And the funky zig-zag curtains and upholstered stool have those slightly deeper shades that ground the pale walls. Even the cute pink scalloped headboard and the throw pillow on the bed have a lovely subtle linen texture. So much inspiration in this space, each time you look there's more pattern revealed.
8. Decorate with earthy tones
Deep ochre yellows, moss tones and deep teal greens all come together in this bedroom so create such an inviting and yet sophisticated color palette. And the accents of gold bring that warmth, adding a touch of glamour amongst all those nature inspired hues.
9. Warm up white with barely there pinks
If you like an all-white scheme but it feels a bit harsh and cold in your space, take notes from this bedroom color idea. Stick to those much-loved whites with the larger pieces of furniture and your bed linen but add just a slight warmth by contrasting all that crisp white with a really pale pink-toned beige.
10. Embrace the trend for red
Red is having a bit of a resurgence at the moment, after seemingly have disappeared from the decorating world, it's making a comeback in a more muted and earthy way. While it may sound bold to cover all your bedroom walls in such a brave color, pick the right red and it can create a warm, cocooning space that doesn't overwhelm.
If you are looking for an all-over color, we'd recommend sticking to those toastier, terracotta tones that don't feel too solid and primary. You could even experiment with that really on-trend plaster effect to add more depth and make the red less intense.
11. Discover how beautiful brown can be
Much like all those beige tones you are seeing, browns are fast becoming a go-to color for our most lived-in rooms like living rooms and bedrooms. It's again all linked to that need for rooms to feel softer, more natural, more comforting, but there's also another trend that could have influenced this once shunned shade's increase in popularity and that's the renewal of 70s interiors.
'The shades of the 70s will play a big role in the color trends of our living spaces for next year, with the earthy terracotta tones that have been on trend for the last couple of years complimented by classic 70s palettes including rich brown and caramel colors, as well as bolder pops of pink and orange.' explains Jane Rockett, Co-founder of Rockett St George.
12. Get creative with textured walls
Plaster walls, or plaster effect walls, give rooms that always on trend, raw industrial vibe that can work surprising well in a bedroom if you style it right. We love how in this space, the matte mid-grey works to balance out the roughness of the plaster wall above, making it more... appropriate for a bedroom and then there's all the lovely soft, textured bedlinen which only makes the room more inviting.
Take home tip: note the radiator has been painted to blend into the walls, creating a more seamless look, that doesn't distract from the blocking of color and bare plaster.
13. Create a serene bedroom scheme with rich blues
Cocooning, with our being too dark or intense, a rich blue can be the perfect bedroom color. Don't be afraid to use it on all four walls, as this bedroom proves, you can really tone down the intensity by pairing it with crisp white woodwork and a pop of a vibrant hue. Whoever said blue and green should never be seen? they are analog colors (they sit near each other on the color wheel) so are always going to look lovely when layered together. And in this blue bedroom idea, the green is so key to giving the space a real lift and breaking up that monochrome scheme with the walls and the furniture.
Also, note the slight texture to the wall, it gives that midnight hue more depth than a flat matte paint would and softens the intensity of using such a dark shade on all four walls.
14. Go for the classic pink and greige combination
Blush tones and warm griegey tones work perfectly in a bedroom. The grey balances out the sweetness of the pink and the pink counteracts any coolness in the grey so the overall look is soft and welcoming, just want you to want in a bedroom color scheme.
This master bedroom was given pink curtains and a pink silk lampshade to bring out that slight pink undertones in the walls. And then to stop all those rosey toned colors from feeling overly feminine, darker colors have been brought in in the headboard and soft furnishings.
'Grey can feel very restful, perfect for a bedroom if used judiciously and the natural light is right for your shade of choice. It can also be surprisingly versatile and will happily layer with many colors such as inky blues, smoky greens and rose pinks.' says Patrick O’ Donnell, Farrow & Ball Brand Ambassador.
'However, if you want to keep the palette more monochromatic, layer tones of grey like Ammonite with Mole’s Breath together. Think browner-based greys for those more poorly lit spaces and lean towards the cooler bluer-based greys like Pavilion Gray for south-facing rooms which will not feel so cold.'
15. Make it rustic with plaster tones
Plaster walls are so on-trend right now. That distressed, almost unfinished look just brings in so much texture and interest to a room and yet is much more subtle than wallpaper – perfect for rooms you want to have a clean, minimal, modern feel but with a slightly rustic touch. We've seen this style in an array of colors from grey to terracotta, but there's something so lovely about a pale pink plaster wall. It grounds the rosy hue, with the texture giving it a more earthy and grungy feel.
'Pink is a great color for those poorly lit north-facing bedrooms.' advises Patrick O’ Donnell. 'Try our discreet Setting Plaster for a truly flattering shade - a nuanced pink that’s anything but sugary. It will layer beautifully with pretty florals and combine with so many shades from blues to greens and muted, stony browns.'
Take home tip: make a pink plaster wall feel even more cool and contemporary by pairing it with a contrasting, deep shade for the woodwork. As can be seen in this pink bedroom idea, those hints of charcoal grey in the doorframe and black accents in the decor give the pink walls more of a grown-up feel.
16. Be bolder with pretty peaches
Slightly more vibrant than a pale pink, a coral tinted peach creates a bedroom that feels both calming but playful too, especially when paired with the zing of bolder hues like the bright pinks that can be found in this bedroom. Peachy tones also work wonderfully with blues and greens too for a bolder combination.
17. Pair sunny shades with soft neutral backdrops
Yellow is actually not a shade we saw a lot of in the world of interiors, perhaps because it can be a tricky shade to know what to pair with in order to make it seem more muted and stylish and less bold and overwhelming.
Mustard is of course often the favored shade of yellow and is a really easy tone to work into a bedroom, but if you are after something fresher and lighter, ochre can be a lovely alternative and you can always tone it down by pairing it with a warm neutral backdrop as can be seen here.
18. Add drama with plummy shades
Deep reds and purples can be make for perfect bedroom color ideas if you are after something braver but still with enveloping quality. Helen Shaw, Director of Benjamin Moore recommends these warmer, richer hues for the bedroom, she advises that 'Corals and pink peach tones are perfect for making a design statement. They create a rich, warm welcoming feeling with undertones of red, orange and pink. It works beautifully as an accent to a grey scheme or as a statement wall color.'
Plus, these darker hues can be perfect in a small bedroom, as they blur the edges of the room and allude to the space being larger.
19. Choose a calming green
'Green is the ‘go to’ color for relaxation and calm and in most forms, due to its association with the natural world is a perfect choice for those of us wanting to truly switch off.' explains Patrick. 'Choose from the softest mid-tone greens such as French Gray to the darker shades of Green Smoke. They are timeless and elegant and will always be perennially popular. This shade can play to both a traditional look and a thoroughly modern aesthetic.'
There is something about green bedrooms, even in their more subtle form like this really pale almost neutral-toned green, that is instantly very soothing. With more subtle greens, bring in more layers of green with your decor and accessories to really bring out those undertones.
20. Pick a barely there light blue
In its palest form, blue can act almost as a neutral, perfect if you want to inject just a subtle amount of color but still have a very versatile backdrop. There's also something very calming about a pale blue, making it the perfect bedroom paint idea, and despite it be quite a traditional, classic shade, when paired with bolder shades, like the accents of orange and green in this bedroom, it can feel very fresh and contemporary.
And note all the subtle textures and patterns going on in this room, it doesn't feel like a busy space because of that lovely calming blue backdrop but in the details, there's a real mix of prints and shapes. The floral print curtains, the striped headboard, the mix of scallops and stripes in the cushions, the texture of that gorgeous wooden sideboard, there are so many considered pieces in the space.
21. Create a bold backdrop
The right yellow can have a very classic feel in a bedroom, but as Patrick advises, 'yellow is an energy color so choose wisely. Look for more muted yellows such as rich ochres or caramel shades. India Yellow nudges towards the ochre end and will radiate warmth when drenched in sunlight.' It's these deeper more muted yellows that tend to work best in a bedroom as they feel softer, you still get the vibrancy but it's not too overwhelming.
And take inspiration from this yellow bedroom, break up walls of solid color with curated gallery wall ideas. We love how these gold frames look against the sunny backdrop, bringing out even more of the warmth and adding that classic elegant look.
22. Be on trend with sage green
Sage green has been the green for years now, it's subtle, stylish, and perfect for color phobes who want to be just slightly more adventurous. It also has that very serene, calming effect that you would want in a bedroom. Pair it with layers of neutral tones – grey, beige, white, and even accents of black – for a fresh take on a neutral bedroom.
23. Go all over with pink
Bubblegum pink might sound a bit out there, but paired with the right hues it can create a warm and welcoming space that has zero girl's bedroom vibes. Combined with earthy tones like rusty oranges and dark yellow, the pink instantly feel more sophisticated. And why just stick with painting the walls? Take it up onto the ceiling too.
Take home tip: when decorating with pink you always want to ground the room with some dark shades. Now that doesn't always been adding in black throw cushions or navy blue curtains, if you want to keep that warm monochrome look avoid breaking up the tonal look by going dark with your floor treatments. See the dark wooden floorboards in this space? They don't interrupt the pink theme but add depth at ground level instead.
24. Pair green walls with accents of pink
Pink and green were once a shunned color combination but done right and they can in fact work beautifully together. 'Pinks and greens produce a really pleasing aesthetic and there are many ways in which to create interplay between the shades, however, my favorite is combining lighter ice-cream shades of these colors.' says Helen Shaw, Director of Benjamin Moore.
'I love this look in a bedroom as it feels soft and subtle whilst looking fresh and optimistic. It’s a great look to wake up to, especially on a sunny summer morning. It can be used in so many ways from picking out all the woodwork in one or the other color through to creating a false horizon. I think it works really well with furniture especially freestanding or fitted wardrobes which can often come in natural wood or plain white finishes.'
25. Go half and half to add height to a bedroom
Not sure about enveloping an entire room in one color? We love this bedroom paint idea of wrapping a strip of color around a room. It also works wonders in small bedrooms or ones with lower ceilings to add the allusion of height. The combination of blue and grey in this bedroom is a classic one, and the touches of gold add the perfect amount of warm and luxury.
26. Get creative with masking tape
Humble masking tape can be such an asset to your DIY arsenal, it's simple yes but so effective and allows you to bring together multiple shades on one wall. We love a simple bold stripe, which is such an easy look to create with tape, but this geometric color-blocking is equally simple and effective. It almost doubles as a headboard, giving the room a focal point and a clear color scheme too. The bedding has been matched almost perfectly, picking up on those warmer tones. The crisp white sheets give that needed lift of lighter color.
27. DIY a colorful headboard with paint
Why invest in a statement headboard when you can paint one? This would be the perfect easy weekend project and could totally change the look of your room, giving it a new color scheme and a new focal point. Plan out your design first using a pencil and then get painting (remember if you go wrong you can always paint over it, so get creative!)
28. Dare to decorate with black
'Black bedrooms I hear you cry? Yes, they can be extraordinarily successful and a great foil for a bedroom filled with artwork.' says Patrick. 'Avoid pure black and look at slightly softer versions such as Off Black, a dark slate version with just the tiniest hint of blue through it. This would be a great solution for light-starved rooms as you are playing with the disadvantages of the conditions rather than fighting them.'
And see that dark bedrooms don't have to be super dramatic either, to tone down the black feature wall in this bedroom, it's paired with lots of lovely soft, neutral layers and crisp white bedding to give the room a lift.
29. Pair earthy tones with baby pink
This unusual green shade is what we imagine you'd get from mixing in a brown or orange pigment with a mossy green – it's very deep, grounded and earthy. The paint has been taken across the headboard too, to striking effect, but it hasn't been taken all the way up to the ceiling, the baby pink breaks up the darker color and creates a really cohesive look with the matching bed linen.
30. Keep it simple with black and white
You can't go wrong with a black and white bedroom color scheme, and you can make it as dramatic or as subtle as you like. A 50/50 split that really shows the contrast is much bolder than a white bedroom with just a few accents of black as this bedroom shows. Soften the look even further with plenty of layers and tactile fabrics.
What is the most relaxing color for a bedroom?
The most relaxing colors for a bedroom are ones that are too distracted, they don't overwhelm the room, they are the focal point, they just sit gently in the background adding a feeling of calm and serenity. Lighter hues tend to be the most calming – pale greens, lavenders, sky blues, and crisp whites are all going to give a very relaxing vibe to a bedroom.
'For a room that you can relax and unwind in, soft blues are a great idea and always popular.' advises Dominic Myland. 'Blues give a fresh feel to a space and evoke feelings of calm. Often thought of as cool colors, blues bring restful calm to a space through the soft tones and depth of pigments. Each color can be used on its own or combined with any others within the palette for a harmonious and sophisticated interior. Light grey blues can be very soothing whilst acting as a quieter backdrop for other colors within your space.'
What colors make a bedroom look bigger?
It's design 101 that white will make a bedroom look bigger, and while yes, this is true, it's not the only color you can used to make a space appear larger. As Nina Tarnowski, Founder & Designer for Woodchip & Magnolia, says, 'Consider swapping out brighter summer colours and stark white walls for deeper and more earthy shades. A common misconception is that dark colors can make a room feel smaller, when in fact they can open up the space and infuse the room with warmth and personality. Layer with textures with throws and cushions, and complete the look with soft ambient lamps to really lend an inviting feel.'
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